CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



PAGE 



Classification and Evolution of Snakes ...... i-ii 



CHAPTER II. 

 History, Distribution, and General Habits of Snakes . . 12-49 



CHAPTER III. 



The Blind Burrowing Snakes [Typhlops and Glauconia) . List of the 

 South African species, habits, colouration, average length, and 

 distribution. The South African Pythons, their life history, 

 description, and various anecdotes ..... 50-79 



CHAPTER IV. 



The Aglypha, or Solid-toothed non-venomous snakes. List of the 

 South African species, their habits, colouration, average length 

 and distribution ........ 80-114 



CHAPTER V. 



Opisthoglypha or Back-fanged snakes, all of which are venomous. 

 These snakes are in the transition stage of fang and poison gland 

 development. List of the South African species, habits, coloura- 

 tion, average length and distribution .... I I 5-1 55 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Proteroglypha or Front-fanged typically venomous snakes of the 

 Hydrophinae and Elapinae Sub-families, viz. the Sea Snakes, 

 Cobras, Mambas, Coral Snakes, Garter Snakes, etc. List of the 

 South African species, habits, colouration, average length and 

 distribution .... .... 156-212 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Solenoglypha section of the Proteroglypha or Front-fanged 

 venomous snakes, viz. the Adders and Vipers — Family ViperidcB. 

 List of the South African species, their habits, colouration, 

 average length and distribution ..... 213-245 



xiii 



